Nitrate Supplementation for Vascular Health in Diverse Populations

Overseen By jasdeep kaur, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Must not be taking: Prescription medications

Disqualifiers: Hypertension, Obesity, Cardiovascular diseases, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 2 weeks

90 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand how beetroot juice, which is high in nitrates, affects blood vessel health in different racial groups: African Americans, Hispanic, and Caucasian Americans. Researchers seek to determine if these groups respond differently to beetroot juice compared to a placebo drink. The trial seeks healthy men and women from these racial backgrounds who do not have high blood pressure, are not on prescription medications, and do not smoke. Participants will consume either beetroot juice or a placebo to help assess its impact on vascular health. As an unphased study, this trial allows participants to contribute to important research on dietary impacts across diverse populations.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial excludes people who take prescription medications, so you would need to stop taking them to participate.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that beetroot juice is usually safe for most people when consumed in larger amounts for a short period. Studies have found that it can help lower blood pressure, benefiting heart health. Most side effects are mild. Some people might notice pink or red urine or stools after drinking beetroot juice, which is normal and not a cause for concern. Studies have reported no major safety issues for short-term use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about beetroot juice for vascular health because it contains high levels of nitrates, which the body converts into nitric oxide—a compound that helps relax and widen blood vessels, improving blood flow. Unlike traditional medications like antihypertensives that chemically alter blood pressure, beetroot juice offers a natural approach with fewer side effects. This makes it particularly appealing as a dietary supplement for improving vascular health across diverse populations. Additionally, its potential to provide benefits through a simple, everyday drink makes it an intriguing alternative to conventional treatments.

What evidence suggests that beetroot juice might be an effective treatment for vascular health?

Studies have shown that beetroot juice, rich in nitrates, can help lower blood pressure, particularly in individuals with hypertension, by reducing the systolic number in a blood pressure reading. Research also indicates that beetroot juice can alter oral bacteria types, potentially benefiting heart health. Other studies suggest that beetroot juice may enhance heart and blood vessel health. These findings imply that beetroot juice could support overall heart health. Participants in this trial will receive either beetroot juice or a placebo drink to assess its effects on vascular health. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults who identify as Caucasian American, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic African American. Participants should have normal blood pressure (below 140/90 mmHg), not smoke, not be pregnant, have a BMI less than 35kg/m2, and no history of cardiovascular, neurological or vascular diseases.

Inclusion Criteria

Healthy men and women who are either Caucasian American, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic African American

Exclusion Criteria

Smoking

I have a history of heart, brain, or blood vessel diseases.

BMI > 35kg/m2

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either Beetroot juice or a placebo and are studied before and 90 minutes after consumption, with a 1-week washout period between visits

2 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for vascular function and blood flow responses to exercise

2 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Beetroot juice
• Placebo drink

Trial Overview

The study aims to understand racial differences in cardiovascular health by testing the effects of beetroot juice on vascular function compared to a placebo drink. The focus is on how this supplement might improve blood vessel health across different races.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Beetroot Juice Active Control 1 Intervention

140 ml of beetroot juice (high nitrate dietary supplement)

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Placebo drink looks and tastes like the beetroot juice but has the nitrate removed from the juice.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Texas at Austin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

387

Recruited

86,100+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 10 healthy males, different forms of inorganic nitrate (NO3-) supplementation were tested, showing that concentrated beetroot juice (BR) was the most effective at reducing blood pressure, specifically lowering systolic and mean arterial pressure.

All forms of NO3- increased nitric oxide metabolites in the body, but the concentrated beetroot juice led to the highest levels of plasma NO2- and was the only form to significantly reduce blood pressure, highlighting its potential for improving cardiovascular health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of dietary nitrate food forms on nitrate metabolism and blood pressure in healthy normotensive adults. McDonagh, STJ., Wylie, LJ., Webster, JMA., et al.[2019]

A study analyzing 45 different lots of 24 beetroot juice products found significant variability in nitrate (NO3-) content, with a mean variation of 30% within the same product and up to a 50-fold difference between different products.

Only five of the tested products consistently provided the recommended dose of ≥5 mmol of NO3- per serving, which is necessary for enhancing exercise performance, highlighting the importance of product selection for athletes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What's in Your Beet Juice? Nitrate and Nitrite Content of Beet Juice Products Marketed to Athletes. Gallardo, EJ., Coggan, AR.[2021]

Supplementation with inorganic nitrate/nitrite from beetroot juice for eight weeks significantly reduced both peripheral and central systolic blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, indicating a potential therapeutic benefit for managing hypertension in this population.

The treatment also improved arterial stiffness, as evidenced by a reduction in augmentation index, suggesting that increasing nitric oxide bioavailability may enhance cardiovascular health in individuals with elevated blood pressure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Inorganic Nitrate/Nitrite Supplementation Reduces Central and Peripheral Blood Pressure in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Bock, JM., Hughes, WE., Ueda, K., et al.[2023]

Ingesting beetroot juice rich in nitrate (NO3-) significantly increases plasma levels of both nitrate and nitrite (NO2-), which can positively affect cardiovascular measures like mean arterial pressure (MAP).

While both NO3- and NO2- have the potential to lower MAP, the expected reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was not observed, suggesting that the role of NO2- in blood pressure regulation alongside NO3- needs further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacokinetics of Nitrate and Nitrite Following Beetroot Juice Drink Consumption. Jakubcik, EM., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K., Chabert, M., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 20 healthy participants aged 60-75, 7 days of dietary nitrate supplementation from beetroot juice did not lead to any significant changes in resting blood pressure or cardiac function during exercise.

The research found no improvements in biomarkers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, or endothelial integrity, suggesting that short-term dietary nitrate supplementation may not enhance vascular health in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary nitrate does not modify blood pressure and cardiac output at rest and during exercise in older adults: a randomised cross-over study. Oggioni, C., Jakovljevic, DG., Klonizakis, M., et al.[2022]

Acute supplementation with nitrate-rich beetroot juice significantly increased plasma nitrate and nitrite levels and reduced blood pressure in both younger (18-30 years) and older adults (50-70 years), indicating its efficacy in improving cardiovascular health.

Older adults experienced greater benefits from beetroot juice, showing a more significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure and higher increases in plasma nitrite levels compared to younger adults, suggesting that this intervention may be particularly advantageous for older populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute Supplementation with Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice Causes a Greater Increase in Plasma Nitrite and Reduction in Blood Pressure of Older Compared to Younger Adults. Stanaway, L., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K., Page, R., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 15 healthy adults, consuming beetroot juice rich in inorganic nitrate significantly lowered aortic systolic blood pressure by an average of 5.2 mmHg within 30 minutes compared to a placebo.

The reduction in aortic blood pressure was temporary, as the effects did not last beyond 60 minutes and were not sustained over a 24-hour period, indicating that while beetroot juice can provide short-term benefits, its effects are not long-lasting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study of the Effect of Beetroot Juice Containing Dietary Nitrate on Aortic and Brachial Blood Pressure Over 24 h. Kukadia, S., Dehbi, HM., Tillin, T., et al.[2021]

Beetroot juice supplementation significantly lowers both systolic blood pressure (SBP) by an average of 3.55 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 1.32 mm Hg compared to control groups, based on a systematic review of 22 randomized clinical trials involving 650 participants.

The effectiveness of beetroot juice in reducing blood pressure is enhanced with longer supplementation durations (≥14 days) and higher doses (500 mL), suggesting a dose-response relationship, while also indicating potential NO3-independent effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Nitrate-Independent Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Beetroot Juice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Bahadoran, Z., Mirmiran, P., Kabir, A., et al.[2023]

In a pilot study involving 20 older adults, beetroot juice supplementation for 28 days significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by approximately 6 mmHg and 4 mmHg, respectively, indicating its potential to improve cardiovascular health.

The study also found that beetroot juice improved large-vessel endothelial function, as measured by flow-mediated dilation, by 1.5%, suggesting that dietary nitrate may be particularly beneficial for older adults and those with endothelial dysfunction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effects of Beetroot Juice on Blood Pressure, Microvascular Function and Large-Vessel Endothelial Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study in Healthy Older Adults. Jones, T., Dunn, EL., Macdonald, JH., et al.[2020]

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